Format of Napoleonic Documents

Disclaimer: The formats described here are what have been observed in the Lublin Parish (Lutheran) records. Although most records throughout Russian Poland will follow the same format, you may see slight variations when reading records from other cities.

Each record starts with a statement declaring the place, date, and time when a particular event was recorded. With the records from the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lublin, it seems that since the 1860s all records were drafted in Lublin. With more recent documents we may find records that were composed in the daughter parishes of Kamien or Cycow. The date is normally shown as two days according to Julian / Gregorian calendars. Russians at that time used the Julian calendar where as Western Europe and North America used and continue to use the Gregorian calendar. In the 1800s there should be a 12 day differential and this changes to 13 days after February 28, 1900. The following formats are found for birth/christening, marriage, and death records:

Birth / Baptism

1. Father, age, occupation, residence

Normally the father's names is written with Latin letters.
In rare instances the father may not be present due death (stated on the record) or due to an illegitimate birth.

2. First witness, age, occcupation, residence

3. Second Witness, age, occupation, residence

Occupation and residence of the two witnesses may be combined if they are the same.

4. Mother (with maiden name), age

5. Child's given name

Normally the child's name is also written with Latin letters.

6. Indication of godparents (usually one or both witnesses) and godmother's name with descriptor and residence.

7. Closing statement of reading and signing the document.

Marriage

1. First Witness, age, occupation, residence

2. Second Witness, age, occupation, residence

3. Groom, marital status prior to this wedding, faith, place of birth

Normally the husband's name is written with Latin letters.

4. Groom's parents including mother's maiden name (and indications if either parent has died)

5. Groom's age, residence

6. Bride, marital status prior to this wedding, faith, place of birth

Normally the bride's name is also written with Latin letters.

7. Bride's parents including mother's maiden name (and indications if either parent has died)

8. Bride's age, residence

9. Text stating that this planned wedding was announced for three weeks.

10. Statements on parent's approval and whether a prenuptial agreement was made.

11. Statement indicating the pastor who performed the wedding.

12. Closing statement of reading and signing the document.

Death

1. First Witness, age, occupation, residence

2. Second Witness, age, occupation, residence

3. Date, time, place of death

4. Deceased person, age

Normally the deceased's name is also written with Latin letters.

5. Relationship(s) of the deceased (usually with at least one witness)

6. Closing statement of reading and signing the document.

Note that in the margin the place of residence for the person/family concerned is specified along with its administrative affiliations.

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